India plans to hold discussions with flood-hit China to provide aid
25 Jun 2008, 1507 Hrs

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New Delhi, June 25 (ANI): India's Ambassador to China, Nirupama Rao today said that her country plans to hold discussions with China on further ways to provide relief and reconstruction in the country's earthquake-devastated southwest region.

Speaking at a commemorative function on the 70th anniversary of the Aid-China-Indian Medical Mission in Beijing Rao said, "There are special needs to rebuild schools and homes and to provide medical care, especially trauma counselling for the affected people."

"India would like to be in touch with the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs and Sichuan provincial government to identify special projects that would help the affected people," she added.

Expressing India's willingness to send a relief team to Sichuan province, she said, "it would be a great idea that the team could provide aid in the quake stricken areas."

External Minister Pranab Mukherjee during his recent visit to China handed over a consignment of aid for the earthquake-affected people of Sichuan province.

This is the biggest ever relief consignment taken up by India and was termed Operation Sahayata 2, Operation Sahayata 1 was conducted in Myanmar.

Earlier, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had granted five million dollars as aid. (ANI)